Meet Tianyu Yang | Film Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tianyu Yang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tianyu, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
Being a creative was never on my radar. I would be a practitioner in the financial industry. I would be well paid. My story is not worth mentioning. Since English is my second language, I would never be able to use it well. All these thoughts preoccupied my mind before. The little artist in me was already shy, coupled with my parents’ concerns. When the moment of decision came, apart from all the external factors, the biggest difficulty I had was to overcome the fear of my own future.

I have the most typical Asian parents. They told me, “To be an artist, you have to starve. ” Even after winning a student documentary award at Tribeca, I was still afraid to commit to my dream of telling stories and instead continued on the more stable path of finance. To be an artist, or a “would-be artist”. Thing started to change after I wrote my first short screenplay, got the chance to work in a film festival, studied at AFI, and interned at A24. All these give me the confidence so I will never be afraid to take myself seriously and just want to keep writing and working. My sincerity and sensitivity help me to connect with filmmakers from all over the world and I earn the confidence to think myself as an emerging filmmaker now.

Today, I still face the challenge that the industry is hungry for talent, but never really looks at international talent seriously. With the experience I have, I take on the challenge to change people’s image about asian filmmakers international filmmakers and BAFTA would be the perfect platform for me to connect with talents who have similar missions and so we can work together.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My name is Tianyu Yang and I grew up in Suzhou, China. When I was growing up, it was also the golden period when Hollywood movies entered the Chinese movie market, so movie theaters became the place I went to most often besides school.

After graduating from high school, I went to Emory University and majored in finance and film studies. During my freshman year, it was documentary film that opened the door to filmmaking for me, one of which was called NIAN, a short film about Asian students remembering Chinese New Year. It won the Grand Prize at the Tribeca Film Festival in the Campus Doc Category. This short film earned me a ticket to the Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival. When it came time to graduate, I knew where I wanted to go next: I wanted to study film at the highest level, and this expectation became a reality when I received my acceptance letter to AFI, the No.1 film school in the US.

Los Angeles has treated me well. I’ve had the opportunity to work as an intern at A24 in its TV department. It means a lot to me as an international student with English as my second language. I also had the opportunity to work with Mister Smith Entertainment during the 43th American Film Market in Santa Monica last October and learn the international film sales landscape.

If my parents’ plan had succeeded, I would have graduated with an undergraduate degree in finance and gone on to an Ivy League school for a master’s in finance. However, that path was interrupted by a short film writing class I happened to take in college – my first time writing.

I took it to my teacher. From his reaction, I could see that what I had written could move people. But my parents’ vision was always there. I convinced them and put all my time and energy into applying to film schools. I wanted to master the languages of both film and finance so that I could allow myself to be a bridge, combining my love and skills.
And so I became a producing student at AFI. My passion grew: I wanted to combine my business background to learn the inner logic of the industry. After these two years, I already produced 6 narrative shorts.

Through my work, I strive to bring unique, diverse narratives to the forefront: I have worked as a producer with Nicholas Finegan, a BAFTA scholar, to produce SOME KIND OF PARADISE, a western LGBTQ gay romance, and with ShiHyoung Jeon, a BAFTA newcomer in 2022, to produce STUCK, an experimental film about the modern Asian sex problem. I’m currently producing a short film called CALEXICO, about a lesbian relationship between a Chinese and a Mexican woman on the US-Mexico border, with Felix Qiang, from the Sundance Directing Workshop. If there’s a story worth telling, I think I’m the best person to bring out its potential.

By actively working in the industry during my two years at AFI, I have built relationships with the most talented filmmakers and professionals in the industry, including executives at A24, Media Res, and Putnam Pictures. Having worked at film festivals such as Urbanworld and NYC shorts, I understand the mechanics of how a short is selected by the programming committee and how a great short can stand out. Additionally, the experience of working at the American Film Market last year gives me a unique insight into the world of international sales and how to succeed in such a market. All of this establishes me as a resourceful producer and someone who can provide insights to help others succeed.

Being here. I have several missions. Firstly, I want to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Hollywood system. This includes gaining knowledge of everything from script development, film/TV production, to distribution. I would strive to secure opportunities within various departments at esteemed film studios such as A24. I would continue my involvement with Urbanworld Film Festival, an Academy Award Qualifying film festival, and learn about the international film markets.

Secondly, I want to expand my professional network and make connections with mentors who are receptive to the potential of Asian filmmakers. My experience working at American Film Market and film festivals has strengthened my resolve to promote greater Asian representation in the industry. I feel a responsibility to inspire younger talents to push boundaries and seize opportunities. I would attend industry seminars and film festivals, while maintaining consistent contact with mentors and colleagues.

Thirdly, I want to serve as a bridge for filmmakers from diverse cultures. Film as a medium possesses an inherent magic: regardless of the origin of a story, it has the power to captivate audiences around the world. My diverse background has fostered an appreciation for diversity and instilled in me a deep sense of respect and generosity toward others.

As a producer, I want to be someone who gets an Asian independent film into theaters or streaming. I always think there is something romantic about being a producer: finding talented filmmakers and bringing them together to tell a story we all want to tell. But the life of a producer can be brutal: you bring in filmmakers who may not be known, and you have to hold the whole film together to make it successful. After the worldwide success of Everything Everywhere All At Once (EEAO), the world was eager for an Asian story. While everyone was overwhelmed by the talent of the director, my first reaction was that it couldn’t have succeeded without the meticulous care of the producer. I want to do something similar, to discover the next star of tomorrow through my eyes, sensibilities and experiences.

At the same time, as a young filmmaker from China, I want to support diverse talents from within. Once Domee Shi came to AFI and talked about how at Pixar she found executives in the room who were willing to support her even though they weren’t Asian. It was moving, but I felt that if there was someone in the room who was qualified to be there, who understood the cultural context of her story, and therefore supported her, then maybe there would be more stories like Turning Red. I want to be in that position.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Let’s say my parents come to visit me (they are actually coming in August!), I would definitely take them to:

Griffith Observatory
Hollywood Sign
TCL Chinese Theater

FOOD (Just to name a few)

Luv2eat Thai
TONCHIN LA
JAE BU DO
Han Bat Shul Lung Tang
BCD Tofu House
Alice’s Kitchen
HERE FISHY FISHY

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents and my mentors along the way.

Lihua Zhou, Xiaofeng Yang (my parents)

James Pellerito. My mentor who wakes me up to make movies. He is one of a kind and I wish I could be a filmmaker like him in the future.

David Barba. He teaches me everything I need to know about filmmaking and how to be resourceful along the way.

Judy Raggi Moore. Without a doubt the most important mentor I have ever met in my life. She teaches me nothing but how to be a human being. A person who lives and always strives for greatness.

Simone Ling. The mentor who takes me one step further into professional filmmaking. She inspires me to be a writer, not just a producer. She teaches me how to be a creative and how to curate myself as a creative.

Chris Kaye. I cannot successfully produce my thesis film without him. He is knowledgeable, calm, and always full of wisdom. I am learning so much about being a good producer from him.

Website: tianyuyang.me

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tianyuyang1025/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tianyuyang1025/

Image Credits
Talisha Elger